Soot blower



March w38. N. L. SNOW ET AL SOOT BLOWER Original Filed Deo. 27, 1952 4 Sheetsheet l March @y 1938.,

N. L. SNOW ET AL;

SOOT BLOWER Original Filed Deo. 27, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @In NQ wf@ mh 1 Q m? QN Q ,Nw/ m .i m m m. m m U 1 Sv vh. xv. n WM .N I m n m Evi N533 Mwah 8, E938. N. L. SNOW ET AL SOOT BLOWER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Dec. 27, 1932 a 0 mi@ 6 c, ,1 0 /a @Ww m m P |l .Il f//fllllrL l I |v l l l l I IIL l|.| n l )l il lll L lr-.

2 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 SOOT BLOWER N. n.. SNOW ET Al.

Original Filed Dec. 27, 193

March 8,k g..

Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOOT BLOWER Application December 27, 1932, Serial No. 649,105 Renewed January 10, 1938 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a iiuid heater cleaner of the character which includes a movable blower element adapted to discharge cleaning fluid adjacent portions of the uid heater to be cleaned. 5 One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a cleaner of the above mentioned character which will include a plurality of movable blower elements and which will include means for operating these blower elements in any desired order and at a point remote from the points of location of the blower elements.

The invention still further vcontemplates the provision of a cleaner of the above mentioned character which will include a plurality of blower 15 elements and which will include means whereby selected ones of these blower elements may be operated at the will of the operator.

Th above and numerous other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a semi-diagrammatic view of a fluid heater showing a plurality of cleaners associated 25 with this fluid heater and showing a control means for these cleaners;

Fig. 2 is an elevational View with parts broken away of one of the cleaners shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

35 Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a slightly modified form of construction;

Fig. 7 is a semi-diagrammatic View partly in section showing a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 6 and the control means for the same;

40 Fig. 8 is an elevational View of a portion of the Structure shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a further slightly modified form of construction;

Fig. l is a semi-diagrammatic elevational view of the control means for the structure shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. ll is a semi-diagrammatic view p-artly in section showing a slightly modified form of construction.

Referring then particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views, the numeral I designates generally a vfluid heater with which cleaners constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention may be associated. This fluid heater is shown as comprising a boiler having the drums I6 and headers Il suitably connected by tubes I8. It is to be understood that the boiler is shown merely for the purposes of illustration since the invention may be associated with a boiler of this or any other character or with any uid heater or like apparatus having surfaces to be cleaned.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the numeral 20 designates a portion of the wall of the uid heater l5. This wall is provided with an opening 2| in which is mounted a wall box 22. Projecting through this wall box is a blower element 23 having discharge nozzles for discharging cleaning fluid adjacent the portions of the fluid heater to be cleaned. One of these discharge nozzles is shown and designated by the reference character 24.

Exteriorly of the fluid heater wall the blower element is journaled in a head designated by the reference character 25. This head comprises a gooseneck 26 adapted to be connected at its one end to a suitable cleaning fluid supply pipe and communicating at its other end with the blower element whereby cleaning fluid admitted to the gooseneck will be supplied to the blower element. Disposed in the lower end of the gooseneck is a valve 21 which controls the flow of cleaning fluid through the gooseneck and thus the admission of the cleaning fluid to the blower element in a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described.

For rotating the blower element there is provided a gear 28 xed to the blower element for rotation with the same. A pinion 29 engages this gear to drive the same, and for driving this pinion there is provided a fluid motor 30 which may be of any suitable construction. It will be understood that whenever fluid under pressure is admitted to the iiuid motor, the pinion 29 will be rotated to thus rotate gear 28 and the blower element 23.

The head includes means for actuating the valve 2l in timed relation to the rotation of the blower element, and this means includes a cam 3| Xed for rotation with the blower element and arranged to engage a lever 32 suitably pivotally mounted in the blower head. 'I'his lever engages the upper end of the stem 33 of valve 2l, periodically depressing this stem to open the valve against the force exerted by the spring 34 which, together with the pressure of the cleaning fluid acting on valve 21, normally holds the valve closed. The entire blower head may be conveniently floatingly supported from the wall box 22 by a suitable oating construction designated generally by the reference character 35.

Referring now again to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that a plurality of blower elements and blower heads are associated with the fluid heater l5. Five of these heads are shown, it being understood that the blower heads and elements associated with the same are suitably locatedl so as to effect a desired cleaning of the uid heater.

For supplying cleaningv fluid to the several heads and thus to the several blower elements, there is provided a main cleaning uid supply header 4U having branches 4I which are connected to the lower ends of the several goosenecks 26. Disposed in the hea-der 40 in advance of the first or lowest branch 4I is a valve 42 which controls the flow of cleaning fluid from the main header to the several branches. This valve 42 is adapted to be actuated in a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described.

Disposed at any convenient point adjacent to or remote from the iiuid heater l is a valve casing 45 divided longitudinally by a horizontal partition 46 to form a lower chamber 41 and an upper chamber which is -divided by vertical partitions 4S into a series of small compartments 49. Suiiicient compartments 46 are formed to p-rovide one for each blower head 25 and an additional one which forms a part of the control means for the valve 42.

Fluid under pressure is supplied to the chamber 41 by means of a suitable conduit 56 which may be conducted to any suitable source of supply (not shown). Formed in the partition 46 are openings 5| controlled by valves 52 having stems 53. These valves are normally held closed by springs 54 which surround the stems 53 and engage collars 55 formed on these stems.

Rotatably supported above the casing 45 is a shaft 56, and adjustably mounted on this shaft 55 as by set screws 51 are cams 58, one cam being provided for each valve stem 53.` The shaft 56 may be either manually rotated or may be motor driven as by mounting a suitable gear 59 on the same and providing a pinion 66 engaging this gear and arranged to be driven by a suitable electric or other motor 6l.

Tapped into the compartment which forms a part of the control means for the valve 42, which compartment will, for the sake of convenience, be referred to as compartment 49a, is a conduit 65. This conduit communicates with a cylinder 66 in which a piston 61 is mounted, this piston being connected by a stem 68 to valve 42. A spring 69 surrounding stem 68 normally holds the valve 42 closed and the piston in the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Tapped into the remaining compartments 49 are conduits 16, and these conduits lead to the several fluid motors 36. It will be understood that each conduit leads to one motor 36, so that as fluid under pressure is admitted to the several conduits, the fluid motors connected to these conduits will be actuated. Suitable valves 1I are disposed in the conduits 10 adjacent the casing 45 whereby they may be conveniently actuated by the attendant.

In the operation of the above described construction, it will be understood that normally all of the valves 52 are closed, so that uid under pres-sure in chamber 41 is not admitted to any of the chambers 46 or 49a. At this time the blower elements are stationary, since no fluid is being supplied to the motors 30, and the valves 21 supplying cleaning fluid to the several motors are closed.

When it is desired to operate the several blower elements, the shaft 56 is rotated, either manually or by means of the motor 6i, this rotation of the shaft causing cams 58 to engage valve stems 53 to thus open valves 52. The cams are so adjusted that the initial rotation of the shaft 56 opens the valve which places the chamber 49a in communication with chamber 41. Fluid under pressure admitted to chamber 49a is conducted by conduit 65 to cylinder 56 where it acts on piston 61 to open valve 42 and thus admit cleaning fluid to the branches 4I. It will be understood that since the several valves 21 associated with the blower heads are closed, cleaning fluid will not at this time be admittedA to the blower elements from the branches 4|.

Continued rotation of shaft 56 will effect an opening of the remaining valves 52 so that fluid under pressure will flow from the several compartments 49 through the conduits 10 to the uid motors 30. As each fluid motor is supplied with uid under pressure, it will be actuated to rotate the blower element with which it is associated, and as each blower element rotates, its respective valve 21 will be periodically actuated to admit cleaning iiuid from its respective branch header 4|. Obviously, the actuation of the several blower elements may be continued as long as cam shaft 56 is rotated and valve 42 is held open by fluid acting on piston 61. When the cleaning operation has been completed, the shaft 56 will have been rotated to such a position that all of the Valves 52 are closed, with the result that fluid under pressure will no longer be supplied to the fluid motors 30, an-d valve 42 will be closed by the cleaning fluid under pressure acting on the same and by the spring 69.

It will be apparent that the shape of the cams 58 and thus the period of time which each cam remains in engagement with its respective valve stem will determine the period of time which each blower element will operate and thus the number of revolutions which each blower element will make before the supply of fluid under pressure to its respective motor is cut off. Thus, by properly designing cams 58, any desired interval of blowing may be obtained. Further, the cams 58, being adjustably mounted as they are on the shaft 56, may be suitably set so that the blower elements may be caused to operate in any desired sequence or, if desired, two or more of the blower elements may be caused to operate at a time. If it is desired that only certain of the blower elements be operated at any given time, the valves 1l controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to the blower elements which are not to be operated may be closed, with the result that regardless of the rotation of shaft 5G, these blower elements will not be operated. Thus the control means provides not only for an operation of the blower elements in any desired sequence, but provides also for the operation of only a selected few of the blower elements if this is desired.

In Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, of the drawings, a modied form of construction is disclosed which will hereinafter be referred to as embodiment B. All reference characters designating parts corresponding to parts disclosed in embodiment A just described will be prefixed by the letter B.

In this modified form of construction there is diagrammatically illustrated a fluid heater B which is shown as comprising a boiler having drums BIG, headers BIT and tubes BIB. Suitably located with reference to the fluid heater as to discharge cleaning fluid adjacent the portions of the same to be cleaned, are blower elements B23, these elements being suitably journaled in heads B25. It will be noted that in Fig. 6 of the drawings only one of the heads is shown in detail, the location of the remaining blower elements being diagrammatically illustrated.

The heads B25 are similar to the heads 25 in that each comprises a gooseneck B26 arranged to receive cleaning fluid from a suitable branch header B4| and arranged to conduct this cleaning uid to the end of its respective blower element. Fixed to each blower element is a gear B28 adapted to be driven in any suitable manner by a fluid motor B30 which may be of any desired construction. AAssociated with each gear B28 is a cam B3| arranged to engage alever B28, these levers being arranged to actuate suitable control valves (not shown) in the blower heads. It will be understood `that the valves in the blower hea-ds are periodically actuated uponrotation of the blower elements to admit cleaning iluid from the branch headers to the blower heads.

For supplying iiuid under pressure to the fluid motors B30 there are provided conduits B10, these conduits extending from a suitable distributor valve which will be later described. According to the teachings of this invention, there is preferably located in each conduit B10 a valve 15, these valves being adapted to control the flow of uid under pressure through the conduits to the several fluid motors. It is a feature of this embodiment of the invention that each valve 15 may be opened and held open during a predetermined operation of the blower element to the head of which its respective conduit leads.

In our application Serial No. 649,106, filed December 27, 1932, we have disclosed several control mechanisms capable of. actuating control valves such as the valves 15 in the manner above mentioned. One form of the construction disclosed in the said application will be described, but it is to be understoodthat there may be substituted for the particular control mechanism disclosed, any of the other 'control mechanisms disclosed in the above mentioned application. The particular control mechanism selected for the purposes of illustration comprises a shaft 16 on which are mounted a cam 11, a ratchet wheel 18 and a sheave wheel 19. The cam and ratchet wheel are xed for rotation as a unit and relative to the sheave 19, and the cam is so arranged that it may be rotated to a position where it engages the stem of valve 15 to open this valve and to hold the same open against the force exerted by a spring 8| which is sleeved on the valve stem and engages a suitable collar on the same.

The ratchet wheel 18 is provided with the series of ratchet teeth 82 and with an enlarged not'ch 83. 'I'he latter is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 84 pivotally mounted on the sheave wheel 19, so that upon a predetermined rotation of the sheave wheel, the latter may be coupled to the ratchet wheel to drive the same. The ratchet teeth 82 on the ratchet wheel are adapted to be engaged by a pawl 85 which is pivotally secured to an extension of the valve actuating lever B28.

Trained on the sheave wheel 19 is a chain which has the pendant ends and 9|, the latter passing through ,a guide 92 suitably carried by the blower head. Fixed to the pendant end 9| is a collar 93 adapted to engage the guide 92 to limit movement of the flexible chain in one direction.

In operation of this control mechanism, it willl be understood that the parts will normally be in such a position that the cam 11 is moved out of engagement with the valve stem 80 and the valve 15 is closed by the spring 8|. If now, the end 9| of the chain is pulled to rotate the sheave wheel in a clockwise direction, the pawl 84 carried by the sheave wheel may be moved to a position where it will engage in the enlarged notch 83 in the ratchet wheel. If now, the sheave wheel is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction by pulling upon the end 90. of the chain, the ratchet wheel will be moved with the sheave wheel, the sheave wheel being coupled to the ratchet wheel by the pawl 84. Movement of the ratchet wheel will move the cam 11 to a position where this cam will open valve 15 and will hold the valve open, the movement of the ratchet wheel and thus of the cam being predetermined by the proper positioning of collar 93 o-n the flexible chain.

With the valve 15 open, it will be apparent that fluid under pressure in conduit B10 may pass to the fluid motor B30 to drive the blower element with which this motor is associated. Each time the blower element moves through one revolution, the lever B28 will be actuated to open the control valve in the blower head during a predetermined portion of the rotation 4of the blower element. Movement of the lever B28 incident to actuation of the control valve will impart a step by step rotative movement to the ratchet wheel 18 by virtue of the engagement of pawl 85 with the ratchet teeth 82. This rotative movement of the ratchet wheel will carry with it the cam 11, ultimately moving the latter to a position where the valve 15 may be closed by the spring 8|. It will be apparent that the initial setting of the cam 11 will determine the movement thereof necessary to release the valve 15 and thus will predetermine the amount of operation which will be imparted to the blower element before the valve 15 is closed and the supply of power to the fluid motor is cut off. It will be obvious that the cam and associated control mechanism may be set so that any predetermined desired number of rotative movements will be imparted to the blower element before the valve 15 is closed.

For supplying uid under pressure to the conduits B10, there is provided a valve casing or steam chest |00. 'I'his steam chest may, as illustrated, be substantially circular and provides a chamber |0| into whicha fluid pressure supply pipe |02 is tapped. Disposed circumferentially of the steam chest at one side thereof are chambers |03, and each conduit B10 is tapped into one of these chambers. Valves |04 control the ow of iuid under pressure from the 'chamber |0| to the chambers |03, these valves being normally held closed by the pressure of the fluid in the chamber |0| and by springs |05 which surround the valve stems |06 and engage collars |01 carried b-y these stems. y

For opening the valves |04 there is provided an arm ||0 which extends radially from a hub I fixed to a shaft I I2 journaled centrally of the steam 'chest |00. This shaft and thus the arm I |0 may be rotated by a gear ||3 driven by a pinion II4 whichin turn is driven by an electric motor ||5.

It will be apparent that as the arm ||0 is rotated, it will successively actuate the valves |04. The length of time that each valve |04 is held open will be predeterminedA by the speed `of rotation of the arm H0, by the width of this arm and by the adjustment of Suitable caps I6 xed to the ends of the stems |00. Thus if the caps ||6 are positioned so as to extend substantially circumferentially of the steam chest, the valves |04 will be held open. for a longer period of time, while if the caps IIB are adjusted to extend substantially radially of the steam chest, the valves |04 will be held open for shorter periods of time. Each cap i6 is preferably individually adjustable with reference to its respective valve stern, so that the different valves |04 may be held open for different periods of time as desired..

For supplying cleaning uid to the several blower elements and fluid under pressure to the steam chest and thus to the actuating motors, there is provided a main header B40. Disposed in this main header is a valve B42 which is adapted to be actuated by a suitable piston (not shown) located in a cylinder B66. A conduit |20 provides communication between the cylinder B6B and the conduit |02 so that fluid under pressure may be admitted from this conduit to the cylinder to actuate the piston in the cylinder and to thus open valve B42.

The conduit |02 is tapped into the main header B40 to receivel cleaning fluid from this header. Disposed in the conduit |02 between the header B40 and the point of connection of conduit |20 with conduit |02 is a valve |2|. This valve is normally held closed by a spring |22 and is adapted to be moved to open position by a solenoid |23. Thus, whenever this solenoid is energized, valve |2| will be opened to admit fluid under pressure to the steam chest and to the cylinder B66.

For controlling the supply of electrical energy to the motor and solenoid |23, the circuits shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings may be provided. Referring then to this figure, the leads |25 and |26 are connected to any suitable source of current (not shown). The lead |25 is connected directly to one terminal |21 of the motor H5. The lead |26 is directly connected to a solenoid |28, and the other terminal of this solenoid is connected by a lead |20 to a switch arm |30. This switch arm is adapted to close the circuit between lead |29 and a lead |3|, this latter lead being directly connected to the other terminal |32 of the electric motor. The switch arm is V` no-rmally held in its non-bridging position by a spring |33. The core of the solenoid |28 is connected by a link |34 to the switch arm |30 so that when the solenoid is energized the switch arm will be moved to its bridging position against the force exerted on the same by the spring |33. While the switch arm may, if desired, be manually actuated, there is disclosed a solenoid |35, the energization of which is controlled bya suitable clock |36, so that periodically the solenoid |35 will be actuated to momentarily move the contact |30 to its bridging position. It will be apparent that as soon as the switch arm is moved to its bridging position, the solenoid |28 will be energized so that the switch arm will be held in its bridging position until the circuit through the solenoid |28 is broken.

The leads and 4| of the solenoid |23 are connected to the leads |3| and I 25, respectively, so that whenever the circuit through the electric motor ||5 is closed, the solenoid |23 will be energized to open Valve |2|.

For the purpose of de-energizing solenoid |28 after a predetermined rotation of the arm` |10, this arm is provided with a camA portion |42 adapted to close a switch |43. The leads |44 and |45 from this switch are so connected to the leads |26 and |29 as to short-circuit the Solenoid |28 when the switch |43 is closed.

The operation of embodiment B of the invention is as follows. Upon completion of a cycle of operation, the switch |43 will be closed, the arm |30 will be out of engagement with contact '|3|, and the valves in the several blower heads as well as the valves |2|, B42 and 15, will be closed. To operate the blower elements, the flexible chains associated with the blower elements are actuated to open the valves 15 associated with the blower heads. The switch arm |30 is then moved to a position where it bridges contacts |29 and |3I, the current flowing through leads |44 and |45 and through switch |43 until the motor ||5 has been actuated suiciently to move cam |42 out of engagement with switch |43. As soon as this occurs, the current will ilow through solenoid |28, energizing the latter and holding the arm |30 in bridging position. The connecting of leads |3| and |29 will cause valve |2| to be opened and will of course also effect an energization of the motor ||5 so that the arm ||0 will be rotated. Opening of valve |2| will admit cleaning iluid under pressure to chamber |0| of the steam chest and will also admit cleaning fluid under pressure to cylinder B66 to thus open the valve B42 so that cleaning uid will be admitted to the several branch headers and thus supplied to the blower heads.

As the arm ||0 is rotated, it will successively actuate valves |04, admitting iiuid under pressure from the chamber |0| to the conduits B10. Since the valves 15 in these conduits have been opened,

the iluid motors associated with the blower heads will be operated to rotate their respective blower elements. Each valve 15 associated with each head will be automatically closed to cut off the operation of its respective head in dependence upon the initial setting of its particular control mechanism.

The sequence of operation of the several heads will be dependent upon the order in which the conduits B10 are connected to the steam chest |00. The motor ||5 will continue to rotate until arm ||0 makes a complete revolution, at which time cam |42 carried by this arm will close switch |43, thus de-energizing solenoid 28 so that spring |33 may move arm |30 to its non-bridging position. 'Ihis will, of course, result in a de-energization of the motor ||5 and the solenoid |23 with the result that rotation of the arm ||0 will be terminated and the supply of fluid to the steam chest and to the several blower heads will be terminated. It will be understood that to initiate the operation of the system, the switch arm |30 must be held in bridging position suiiiciently long for the motor to rotate arm |0 to a point where the cam 42 is moved out of engagement with switch |43, at which time the solenoid |28 will be energized to hold the switch arm closed,

If it is desired that all of the blower heads operate, all of the chains associated with these heads will be actuated. If, however, it is desired that only a. few of the blower heads operate, then only the chains or iiexible elements associated with these heads will be actuated, so that even though the several conduits B10 are all placed in communication with the source of fluid under pressure, fluid under pressure will only be ad mitted to the fluid motors associated with those heads which it is desired to operate. It will be apparent that by virtue of the control mechanism disclosed associated with each blower head, that nected directly to the uid chest CI00.

while the operation of the entire system may be initiated by actuation of switch arm |30, only those blower elements which it is desired to operate will operate, and the blower elements which are operated will only be operated the predetermined desired amount.

In Figs. 9 and 10 there is disclosed a further modified form of construction which'will, for the sake of convenience, be referred to as embodiment C. In this form of construction there is associated with the fluid heater CI 5 a plurality oi blower elements and blower heads, one of the blower heads being illustrated and designatedr by the reference character C25. This blower head is similar in construction to that disclosed in embodiment B in that it includes a gooseneck C26, this gooseneck being connected at its lower end to branch supply pipe C4| and being so arranged that it may supply cleaning uid to the blower element (not shown).

For rotating the blower element, there is provided fluid motor C30 which, by means of a suitable pinion (not shown), drives gear C28 which is secured to the blower element. Cam C3I xed for rotation with the blower element actuates lever C32, this lever being arranged to actuate the valve (not shown) which controls the admission of cleaning fluid from the branch header to the blower head. Disposed in conduit C10 which supplies fluid under pressure to the fluid motor is valve C15 which is adapted to be controlled by a cam C11 fixed for rotation with ratchet wheel C18. For rotating the ratchet wheel to initially adjust the position of cam C11, there is provided sheave wheel C19 on which a flexible actuating element is trained, this element having the depending ends C90 and CSI. For moving the cam out of holding relation with respect to the stern of valve C15, there is provided the pawl C85 which is actuated by the lever C32 and which engages the teeth on the ratchet wheel C18. Asin the previously described form of construction, the control mechanism provides that valve C15 may belopened and held open for any predetermined desired number of rotative movements of the blower elements.

In this modified form of construction, however, the main cleaning fluid supply header C40 is conposed in the header C40 is valve C|2| which is adapted to be actuated by solenoid CI23, the arrangement being such that when the solenoid is energized, the valve C|2| will be opened and the cleaning fluid will be sup-plied directly to the fluid chest.

The branch headers C4 I, instead of being connected directly to the main header C40, are connected to the latter through the fluid chest C |00, so. that as the valves associated with the uid chest are actuated, cleaning i'luid will be supplied from the fluid chest to the several branch headers. Further, in this modified form of construction, the conduit C10, instead of extending to the fluid chest, is tapped into the branch header C4I.

For rotating the control arm CI I of the fluid chest, there is provided gear CI I3, pinion CII 4 and electric motor CI I5. This electric motor is adapted to be energized when contact arm C|30 is actuated tobridge contacts C|3| and CI29. A solenoid C|28 is provided for holding the switch arm CI30 in bridging position, and this solenoid is adapted to beshort-circuited when switch CI43 is closed by cam CM2. Solenoid C|23 is 4electri- Discally connected to the leads to the motor CI I5 by the leadsC|40 and C|4|.

In operation, it will be apparent that whenever the switch arm Cl30 is moved to its bridging position, the valve C|2| will be opened to admit cleaning iiuid directly to thev distributing valve CI00. At the same time the motor CI I5 will be energized to rotate arm CI |0 and to thus successively actuate the valves associated with the steam chest. Thus cleaning fluid will be supplied from the steam chest or rotary Valve to the several branch headers C4I, but this cleaning fluid will not be supplied to the several blower elements nor to the motors associated with the same unless the valves C15 are opened. Thus, if it is desired that all of the blower elements be actuated, all of the valves C15 may be opened, while if it is desired that only certain of the blower elements be actuated, then the valves C15 associated with these heads only, will be opened.

Withthis modied form of construction it will be apparent that the length of the conduits C may be reduced to a minimum, since these conduits need only be tapped into the branch headers which supply cleaning fluid to the several blower heads. As in the previously described form of construction, operation of the system may be initiated by actuation of the switch arm CISG, and the several blower elements willoperate, each for the period of time desired by the attendant. y

In Fig. 11 there is disclosed embodiment D of the invention, this embodiment comprising modiiied means for actuating the switch arm which initiates the operation of the entire system. Referring then to this iigure, the numeral DI30 designates a switch arm which is adapted to bridge leads D|29 and D|3|. It will' be understood that when the switch arm is moved to its bridging position, it will be held in this position by a solenoid D|28 until the operation of the system which it controls has been completed, at which time the solenoid will be deenergized and the switch arm will be moved to its non-bridging position.

In this modified Vform of construction it is contemplated that the switch arm D|30 will be actuated by means responsive to either the tempera? ture in the uptake from the boiler o-r fluid heater with which the cleaners are associated or the temperature of the superheated steam from the boiler. Provision is made that should the temperature olf the gases inthe uptake rise above a predetermined point, thus indicating the necessity of cleaning the fluid heater, the switch arm will be moved toy its bridging position, thus initiating an operation of the several blower elements associated with the iiuid heater. Likewise, should the temperature of the superheated steam fall below a predetermined amount, the switch arm D|30 would be actuated to initiate an operation of the several blower elements.

To accomplish this'result, there is provided a thermoresponsive member designated, generally by the reference character |50. While this thermoresponsive device maybe of any desired construction, it is shown as being of the type which includes a flexible bellows or the like (not shown) and a bulb I 5| which contains a suitable thermoresponsive fluid, and which is connected, to the bellows by a suitable tube |52. 'I'he bellows is. arranged to actuate a stem |53 which may be either directly connected to the switch arm D|30, as illustrated, or indirectly connected thereto, so that the desired actuation CJI of the switch arm may be effected upon any predetermined actuation of the thermoresponsive device.

The numeral |54 designates, for example, the uptake from the uid heater, although itis to be understood that the member |54 might be the conduit which conducts the superheated steam from the boiler with which the system is associated. As the temperature within conduit ld varies, the thermoresponsive device will be actuated, and upon a predetermined actuation of this device, the switch arm DI30 will be actuated to initiate the operation of the cleaning system.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides means whereby a plurality of blower elements may be associated with a fluid heater to clean the same. The invention provides means whereby the operation of the system of which these elements form a part may be initiated, the system then continuing to operate and its operation being automatically terminated after a cycle of operation has been completed. The invention further provides that associated with each blower element there may be a control means by'which the amount of operation of each blower element may be varied to suit the conditions encountered and whereby, if desired, only certain of the elements of the system will be operated during the cycle of operation of the system.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purposes of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. In a soot cleaning system, a plurality of movable blower elements, a fluid motor associated with each blower element for moving the same, a conduit connected to each fluid motor for supplying fluid under pressure to the same, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, a valve associated with each conduit for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure from said source to its respective conduit, a. cam associated with each valve for actuating the same, a common drive means for al1 of said cams and means providing for adjustment of said cams relative to each other to vary the sequence of actuation of said valves.

2. In a soot cleaning systemfa plurality of movable blower elements, a head associated with each blower element through which cleaning iiuid is supplied to the same, a fluid motor associated with each blower element for moving the same, a header through which cleaning fluid is supplied to all of said heads, a valve in said header for controlling the ilow of cleaning fluid through the same, a conduit connected to each fluid motor for supplying fluid under pressure to the same, a rotary distributing valve for controlling the admission of uid under pressure to said conduits, a connection between said header and distributing valve for conducting fluid from the former to the latter, a valve in said connection and a single means for effecting the actuation of the valve in said connection, the rotation of said distributing valve and the actuation of the valve in said header.

3. In a soot cleaning system, a plurality of movable blower elements, driving means associated with each blower element for moving the same, means for controlling the supply of power to all of said driving'means, and means controlled by'the temperature in the uptake from the fluid heater with which the blower elements are associated for governing the actuation of said power supply means.

4. In a soot cleaning system for a fluid heater including a steam superheater, a plurality of movable blower elements, a driving means associated with each blower element for moving the same, means for supplying power to all of said driving means, and means controlled by the temperature of the steam from said superheater for initiating the actuation of said power supply means.

5. In a fluid heater cleaner, a blower element, and means operating in dependence upon the temperature in the uptake from the fluid heater with which the blower element is associated for controlling the operation of the blower element.

6. In a cleaner for a fluid heater having a steam super-heater, a blower element, and means operating in dependence upon the temperature of the steam from said super-heater for controlling the actuation of the blower element.

7. In a uid heater cleaner, a blower element, and means o-perating to control the supply of cleaning fluid to the blower element in dependence upon the temperature. in the uptake from the fluid heater with which the blower element is associated.

8. In a cleaner for a fluid heater' having a steam super-heater, a blower element, and means for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to the blower element in dependence upon the temperature of the steam from said super-heater.

9. In a soot cleaning system, a plurality of blower elements, a fluid motor associated with each element for moving the same, a conduit connected to each fluid motor for supplying fluid under pressure to the same, a valve associated with each conduit for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure through the same, a stem for each of said valves, a cap carried by each stem, and a member movable with reference to said valves and adapted to successively engage said caps to successively actuate said valves, said caps being adjustable with reference to the path of movement of said member to vary the period of supply of fluid under pressure to said conduits.

l0. In a soot cleaning system, a plurality of movable blower elements, a drive means associated with each blower element adapted to move the same through a plurality of cycles of movement, each cycle consisting in movement of the blower element away from and substantially back to an initial position, means for controlling the supply of power to all of said driving means, and means associated with each driving means automatically operating to terminate the actuation thereof after the element associated therewith has been actuated through a predetermined plural number of cycles of movement.

ll. In a fluid heater cleaner, a blower element, and thermoresponsive means for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to the blower element, said thermoresponsive means being so arranged as to be responsive to temperature changes occasioned by the depositing of soot on the heat exchange surfaces of the lluid heater.

12. In a soot cleaning system, a plurality of rotatable blower elements, a cleaning fluid supply line for each blower element, a valve in each supply line, means operating to open each valve during a portion of the rotation of its respective blower element, a driving means for each blower element, means for supplying power' to said driving means according to a predetermined desired sequence, and an individual control means for each driving means adjustable to vary the length of the period of operation of the same whereby the number of revolutions of each blower element may be adjusted With reference to the number of revolutions imparted to the other blower elements of the system.

NORMAN L. SNOW. WILLIS P. THOMAS. HARRY E. BRELSFORD. CURTIS L. HOWSE. FRANK BOWERS. 

